India, Belarus can deepen defence ties with ‘Make in India’

The ‘Make in India’ programme provides opportunities to India and Belarus for cooperation in the field of defence, President Ram Nath Kovind has said.

Hosting a banquet in the honour of President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, Kovind said India was committed to further strengthen its relations with Belarus.

“There is a huge opportunity to diversify the bilateral trade between India and Belarus. India is keen to strengthen its trade and investment partnership with Belarus,” Kovind said highlighting that year 2017 was the silver jubilee year of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Belarus.

“The Make in India programme provides opportunities to companies of both countries for cooperation in the field of defence,” he added.

The President said that India acknowledges Belarus’s support at various multilateral forums such as the United Nations, Nuclear Suppliers Group and International Court of Justice.

Lukashenko arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit to India. This is his third official visit after 1997 and 2007.